Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i know pine is toxic to snakes, if i made a cage out of pine boards would it be possible to seal it so the snakes dont breath in the fumes?
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jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

For pine to be toxic one really has to be exposed to the dust, so yes pine boards should be safe.

However, pine boards are a poor choice for cage construction. Most pine boards sold are still fairly moist and can shrink, warp and twist over time as the boards are exposed to climatic changes. Even if dry pine is generally considered to be a very unstable wood, making it a bad choice for the tolerances required is reptile caging.

The laminated pine boards sold at home centers are a bit better but tend to be terribly overpriced for what they are.

Pine is okay as a face frame attached to a more stable cage, but is not good for the entire cage.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

in one of my classes we have to make something out of an 8 foot pine (probably spruce)1x10 all i can think of is a single cage with a plexiglass front or a hatchling rack.
ill probably just make a hatchling rack, because its easier.

got any plans for a small hatchling rack?
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jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

I'd rather see you make a cage than a rack out of pine. Solid woods in general do not work well with racks, especially so with hatchling racks. The tolerances will not be the same in summer and winter.

If you have boxes with locking and secure lids, then I could see making a simple bookshelf type rack that the boxes sit on.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

thats what i was planning on
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jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

I used pine for my current boa cages, the fronts mind you. You could make the same with the one board and use melamine, formica laminated MDF, or Sealed Baltic Birch for the remainder of the cage carcass. Just an idea.

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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child